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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1917)
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, TUtTRSDAT, DECEMBER 27. 1917. ITALIANS CAPTURE, THEN LOSE HEIGHTS FIRST SEA LORD OF BRITISH ADMIRALTY, WHO SUCCEEDS SHI L ip I n JO.HN JELLICOE. ltJ DLHII FOR SHIP DELAYS Coi Del Rosso and Bonto Val Bella on Asiago Plateau v Scene of Fighting. 20,000 Men Idle for Month, but Situation Is Now Improving. QUALITY OUR POLICY - PIAVE FRONT INSPECTED BIG PROBLEM IS FACED ABOR i mm ILL) 9 Associated Press ' Correspondent Visits Trenches With General and Finds Troops Strongly Entrenched and Hopeful. ROME, Dec. 26. Col Del Rosso and Monte Val Bella, on the Asiago Pla teau, were recaptured by Italian forces In a counter 'attack yesterday, but It was found impossible to hold them, the War Office announced today. BERLIX, Dec 2S, via London. Vio lent counter attacks against the Aus-tro-German positions on Col Del Rosso and neighboring heights on both sides broke down yesterday . with heavy losses, according to the official state ment issued today by the German Gen . eral Staff. ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN NORTHERN ITALY, Dec. 25. (By the Associated Press.) A general commanding an army corps on the Piave front took the correspondent along the line occupied by his corps today and pointed out the Auatro-German nest on the west bank of the river, which is the only foothold he has succeeded in maintaining. The main purpose of the Italian com mander was to carry a holiday greet ing to his men in the first-line trenches, but incidentally this visit to the ex treme front gave an -opportunity for the General to explain the lay of the land and why the enemy was finding himself able to hang on. Defenses Are Strong. As the party moved forward it was noted that the defenses had been highly organized so that any sudden rush of the enemy would meet tremendous re sistance. The defenses comprise a string of trenches fortified for defense with masses of tangled wire and con structions after the Chevaux de Frlse order, with numerous sharp projec tions. , Entering the first-line trenches the General led the way. The ground in front was covered with low bushes and ecrubby vines running down to the waters edge. Behind this ran a high earthen enbankment originally erected as a dyke, but now serving the enemy as a refuge against petty shelling. In the foreground were three large stone farmhouses that had been torn to pieces by Italian shell fire. One of these had had the roof, the upper floors and two wings blown off, while the jagged walls of the first story were still standing. It was still used, the General said, for the enemy's machine guns. They were silent tnen, as the holiday season had by common consent afforded a lull. The heavy Austrian guns were heard now and then. Machine Gma Thick. The General said that the enemy force In the Zeenson curve was about three battalions, with an exceptionally large supply of machine guns. Their communications were principally oper ated in the night hours. The enemy's foothold on the west bank of the Piave here was not regard ed by the General as a serious menace to the Italians, as it was not a base which could be augmented by an in crease of the forces. It could be cleared ut at any time, he said, but the effort was not worth the sacrifice it would require In the face of the ma chine guns. The bend was completely controlled and hemmed in and it was better, he thought, to let the enemy sacrifice his men In holding a position useless to him. Th General had a cheery word for the men In the trenches, presenting many of them with holiday gifts and giving encouragement . and praise to alL The men were In the best of cpirlts, looked sturdy and well con ditioned and were unanimous in assur ing their commander that they could hold the enemy against any further advance. - $5000 BALM IS SOUGHT E. C. Kruger Charges P. L. Abbott With Defamation of Character. Z "He called me a crook and a thief." . asserted E. C. Kruger yesterday in de m manding $5000 from P. L. Abbott in a m suit filed in the Circuit Court for balm as the result of the alleged defamation "V of his character. The plaintiff asserts that this alleged - false charge was made publicly by the r : defendant at the postoffice, where the .. plaintiff was employed as a special de livery carrier. The statement is al ' leged to have been made November 10 last. The plaintiff asserts he is a mar ried man of family, and that the charges matft by the defendant have caused him considerable humiliation. BLISS WILL BE RETAINED "." General to Remain In Active Service as Chief of Staff. WASHINGTON". Dec 26. General Tasker H. Bliss will be retained on ac tive service as chief of staff of the Army after he reaches the retirement age next Monday, December 31. Secretary Baker announced late to day that this had been decided upon by President Wilson. It had been be lieved generally that General Bliss would continue in active service, but that some younger officer would as um the burdens of the chief of staff. Bell-am s Absolutely Removes Indigestion. Druggists refund money if it fails. 25c Not Quite Don and Ont. - Many a man feels that he is down ana out when as a matter of fact he still has in him many years of good service that can be brought out by proper treatment. Stomach trouble oft en makes one despondent. It hits him where he lives, saps his strength and "energy and makes him feel like giv ing up. Give him a few doses of Cham berlain's Tablets to improve his diges tion and invigorate his liver and bow els, and in most cases recovery Is prompt and effectual. Adv. gantlseptio for a Perfect Complexion preserres. benutlfles, softens, whitens, presents and rspldly clears skin of all eruptions. You U like its cleanly, Maltay odor. 60c Ail OxnzgLet . . Adv. i - V y J I . Y. Af If' i h wr . - k A ' ' i ! sm nossLTir wemyss. JELLICOE IS OUSTED Sir Rosslyn Wemyss Is Made First Sea Lord. NAVAL POLICY ATTACKED Change Believed Duo to Jion-Aggres- sivo Policy and Desire of Younger Elements In Navy to Try Some New Tactics. LONDON. Dec. 16. Vice Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss has been appointed first sea lord in succession to Admiral Sir John R. Jelllcoe, according to an official announcement Issued this evening. The translation of Sir John R. Jel llcoe to the honorable eclipse of a seat in the House of Lords and the promotion of the second sea lord to his place, briefly announced in an of ficial communication tonight, will con vey but one interpretation to the mind of the general public in view of the strong criticisms for a lone time Bast upon the Admiralty, which culminated in deep disappointment and dissatis faction at the Impunity with which German raiders recently again sank a British convoy. 1 he official announcement says nothing of Admiral Jelllcoe having for any reason desired to resign. The an nouncement proceeds: "During the war Admiral Jelllcoe was in command of tha grand fleet before he came to the Admiralty to take up the position of first sea lord, which he has held with distinction for the last 13 months. It is hoped that his services and experience may be made use of at a later date in another important appointment." A.dmiral Jelllcoe goes into retirement with universal expressions of admira tion, and thanks for his services to the nation. Evea his most vehement critics testify to his capacities and, achieve ments, the affection he won through out the fleet and emphasize the nation's confidence. "It can never be forgotten that if the fleet trusted him, the nation, rightly trusted him, too," says the Times. That Sir John Jelllcoe would be re moved from the position of first sea lord of the British navy has been foreshadowed for some time because of heavy criticism to which Admiral Jellicoe and the Admiralty have been subjected by a section of the British press and prominent Englishmen op posed to the present naval policy. It has been asserted that Admiral Jellicoe's policy of hemming in the German fleet is not aggressive enough and that a more aggressive policy by the Admiralty should be adopted. It is openly admitted that Admiral Jellicoe and . older officers of the British navy have opposed any at tempt to try and rout the German fleet from its base at Helgoland, whereas a growing element of younger officers of the fleet has urged an attempt to destroy the German fleet and bases, especially the submarine bases at Zee brugge and other Belgian coast ports. While no official explanation of the reason for making Sir Rosslyn Wemyss first sea lord has been made, it is re garded as probable that it is. due to the triumph of the younger element in the navy to get a man in command who will adopt a more aggressive policy. Sir Rosslyn Wemyss is a compara tively young man, having been born in 1864. He was formerly a naval aide de camp and commandant of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. NEW PLANT TO BE BUILT (Continued From First Pag-e.) the electric company with the Portland Lumber Company by which all refuse fuel from the lumber plant will be utilized as fuel for operating the new plant. This refuse will be conveyed auto matically to the site of the electrical property and will materially simplify the fuel problem. The continued oper ation of the plant, however, has been safeguarded so far as fuel is con cerned, provision having been made for an auxiliary fuel service. At the geiferal election in November, 1912, the people of Portland voted the Northwestern Electric Company a fran chise authorizing it to furnish electrical power for heat, light and power pur poses. The ensuing year was devoted to the development of the company's water- power plant on the White Salmon River and the installation of its system in this city. This plant has a capacity of 20,000-horsepower and began its serv ive January 1, 1914. In the same year the company Installed its central steam heating plant, capacity 7E00-horsepow-ec, in the Pittock block. This service was available to consumers March 1. 1914. The company also owns two addi tional waterpower sites on the White Salmon River and another on the Lewis River but none of these has been de veloped. It is from this company the Crown Willamette Paper Company's electri cally operated plant at Camas, Wash., obtains Its power. The company also supplies the towns of Camas and Wash ougal. Wash., with a street-lighting service. GEORGE BERRY BURIED PIOXEER PROSPECTOR AND Lt'M. HERMAN LAID TO REST. Stockman cf Sheridan Conety Shared Honors of Being a Pioneer f Gnat California Gold Roan. SHERIDAN, Or.. Dec. 26. (Special.) George W. Berry, pioneer of the Cal ifornia gold rush, miner, prospector, stockraiser and lumberman, was buried here today. He died Monday at the home of his daughter, at Tacolt, Wash., at the age of 88 years. Borne in Maine, Mr. Berry crossed the Isthmus of Panama when 21 years old and mined and prospected. In the late '50s he went to Cove, in the Grand Rondo Valley, of Eastern Oregon, and engaged in stockralBing, coming to Rickreall. Polk County, in '62. Later he moved to within a few miles of Sheridan, where he owned and oper ated a sawmill. Mr. Berry is survived by five chil dren, George A. Berry, of Arlington, Or.; Charles A. Berry, of Albany, 0.r.; Lillian Bowman, of Yacolt; Clara Sloan, and Ethel F. .Miller, of Parkersburg, Or, and two step-children. Dr. W. E. Tatom, of Florence, Or, and Frank Tatom. of Rickreall, Or., all of whom attended the funeral. KAISER HAS CLOSE CALL Maiuiheim Station Destroyed an Hoar After Emperor Leaves. GENEVA. Dec 26. The German Em peror, returning with his staff from the Verdun front, had a narrow escape during the reprisal raid of a British air squadron on Mannheim Christmas eve, according to a dispatch from Basel. The Emperor's special train left the station an hour before it was partly destroyed by several bombs. A section of the tracks was torn up, cutting communication north. In fact the Emperor's train was the last to leave Mannheim, and no trains arrived at -Basel yesterday from that city. Two bombs fell on the palace, and one on the suspension bridge across the Neckar river, both structures be ing badly damaged. An ammunition factory in a northern suburb was blown up Few persons were killed at the factory however, as the employes were having a holiday. A considerable num ber of persons were killed or injured In the town and several were blown Into. the Rhine. AGED MAILCARRIER IS DEAD William Squires Carried First Sack of Mail to Tillamook in 1806. TILLAMOOK, Or., Dec. 26. (Special.) William Squires, resident of Tilla mook for 50 years, and the first person to carry mail in this vicinity, was buried here Sunday. He was born near Leeds. England, in 1828; and came to America in 1843. Mr. Squires first located In Illinois, but later returned to England, where he was married to Elizabeth Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Squires then came to the United States and located at St. Jo seph. Mo. They afterward settled In Kansas, where Mr. Squires operated one of the first sawmills in that state. Mr. Squires crossed thep lains in 1865, and later took up his residence in Portland. On .July 6, 1866. he started over the old Indian trail with the first sack of mall consigned to Tillamook. He once served as postmaster here, but for the past few years has lived on a homestead near this place. Bowlers to Compete Tonight. J. W. Blaney" of the Oregon Alleys and George Crisp, of Spokane, will roll a 10-game series at the Oregon Alleys, starting at 8 o'clock tonight. A cash trophy is at stake. Senators Sherman and Nelson Dis cuss Policy of Conscription of Labor for Government Work . During Continnation of War. WASHINGTON; Dec. 26. Labor trou bles were blamed for much of the de lay In the Government's shipbuilding programme by Raymond B. Stevens, vice-chairman of the Shipping Board, testifying today In' the Senate com merce committee's investigation. Since the United States went to war, Mr. Stevens said, shipyards have lost a total of 536,992 working days by strikes and other disputes. This, he argued, represents the work of 20,000 men for a month. Happily, said Mr. Stevens, the situation Is improving by reason of measures taken by the board to adjust differences wherever they arise. Senators took a lively interest in the story of the labor situation, and the inquiry turned to the w:.ole sub ject of labor and Its position during the war. Questions as to the wisdom of conscription of labor for shipyards and other Government work 'rew from Mr. Stevens emphatic opposition to any attempt to force civilians to work un der prescribed conditions and Government-fixed wages. Workers Should Be Doubled. Telling of the board's work in estab lishing employment agencies on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Stevens said that with their institution also in the East the board hoped to obtain from other Industries as many men as it needs. "The number of men should actually be more than doubled," he said, "if we are to accomplish our full aims. Roughly, there now are about 150,000 men engaged in shipbuilding. We could use from 200,000 to 800,000 more. Re cently 106 yards reported that they ould use immediately 20,000 more men." s Mr. Stevens described a bonus sys tem Instituted in Pacific Coast "yards and said If it proved successful an ex tension o the East was planned. "Is that not an excess profit you are paying?" asked Senator Nelson. "We do nt consider It as such," re plied Mr. Stevens, "but If It will speed up the production of ships we think It is wise to pay It. What we are con cerned with now Is the production of ships, and if the bonus will help accom plish that It is worth while, despite the cost." s Labor Situation Big Problem. . The labor situation, the witness said, presents a problem too big for any one department to handle. A centralized policy as to the relation of the Gov ernment to labor during the war, he said, should be worked out immedi ately. This brought up the discussion regarding conscription. Senator Sherman asked if it was fair or just to conscript men for the Army and permit workers to strike for higher wages. Mr. Stevens eaid he did not believe conscription of labor could be enforced, as the sentiment was too strong against it. Senator Nelson argued that sentiment had been against the conscription of men for the Army, but that it had been put Into force. "And," he added, "I think It was wise, now, although I voted against it at the time. Sentiment may change respect ing labor conscription, too." Delay Saved 915,000,000. Asked If quibbling over prices had delayed ship construction, Mr. Stevens said he thought it had, to some extent. He told of the delay in closing con tracts for fabricated ships, while Ad miral Capps, formerly general man ager of the Emergency Fleet Corpora tion, was reducing figures approved by his predecessor, Major-General Goethals. The delay, it was brought out, saved the Government 815,000,000 in the contracts. Mr. Stevens took occasion to denounce a published charge that he had let contracts to a friend in New Hamp shire at a high price. He filed with the committee a letter from General Goethals who, upon seeing the charge, wrote that he negotiated the contract In question and that Mr. Stevens bad nothing to do with it. WOMAN KILLED BY BLAST Hurtling Log Carries 175 Yards and Death Is Kesnlt. ASTORIA. Or., Dec. 26. (Special.) Mrs. Laura Newport, wife of William Newport, manager of the cookhouse at the Crown Willamette Pulp & Paper Company's construction camp In the Green Mountain district, was Instantly killed about 4 oclock Monday after noon and the body was brought here this morning. Mrs. Newport was at work in the cookhouse, when a charge mi 50 sticks of dynamite was set off In a pile of logs and a chunk welging 120 pounds was thrown about 175 yards, striking the woman in the back of the head and fracturing her skull. The deceased was a native of Iowa. 22 years of age, and left a husband and a 5-year-old son. $6000 SOUGHT IN ACTION Prominent Corporations Named as Defendants by Ezra Andrews. Alleged fraud and deceit on the part of George E. Hardy, the Heath Ship building Company, the Ladd & Tllton Bank, the Skandia Pacific Oil Engine Company and others is charged by Ezra Uager Andrews in a suit filed yes terday to recover $6000 from the de fendants, which he alleges was secured from him through false representa tions. - He alleges that he put $5000 into a shipbuilding enterprise headed by Mr. Hardy with the understanding that his money was -fully secured. He later found this concern to be insolvent, he declares, and asserts that the Ladd & Tilton Bank knew the firm and the defendant, George Hardy, were In solvent when they recommended the investment to the plaintiff. Living Cost 106 Per Cent Higher. LONDON. Dec. 12. The cost of living in Great Britain has risen 106 per cent since the war, according to official fig ures presented In the House of Commons. folds Cause Headache and Grip LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE Tablets re move the cause. There Is only on "Bromo Quinine." E. W. GKOVK'S sitcnatura oa box. 80c Adv. UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT: THE EUROPEAN FAIRBANKS, THE STRONGEST MAN IN THIS WORLD " MA C IN 99 0 THE WARRIOR V MACISTE'iivTHE WAUCIOB' J A RIOT OF FUN AND ACTION Ask Somebody That Has Seen It! O HI GILL UNDER FIRE Disbarment Proceedings Are Started Against Mayor. CASE UP TO STATE BOARD Action Follows Recent Attempt to Impeach Official in Connection With Vigorous Army Reproof of Vice Conditions. SEATTLE, -Wash.. Dec 26. (Spe cial.) Disbarment proceedings were filed today with the State Board of Law Examiners by the Attorney-General-against Mayor Hiram Charles Gill and his former law partners, Heber B. Hoyt. Hermon S. Frye and James G. Raley. This move was the outgrowth of the recent futile effort to secure the im peachment of Mayor Gill by the City Council following the Army order closing Seattle to Camp Lewis can tonment soldiers) because of alleged vice conditions here. Copies of the complaint -were re ceived by Sheriff John Stringer late today for service on the attorneys. The order Is returnable January 7, and the hearing will be held in Seattle. The alleged connection with the law firm with the Merchants' Protective Cor poration Counsel Is made the basis of the action. Mayor Gill Is charged with unpro fessional conduct in allowing his name, while serving as Mayor, to be used by the firm In its connection with the cor poration. The Merchants' Protective Corpora tion is an organization that has for its object the protection of its clients in police and justice courts, should they ever be made defendants in such courts. As such, under the complaints in disbarment filed today. It is alleged that the corporation and its legal rep resentatives are in conflict with the ethics of the legal profession, and come squarely under the law prohibiting such practices. Mayor Gill has always? contended that he is not and has not been a member of the law Arm of Gill, Hoyt & Frye since his election to office four years ago. Today Heber B. Hoyt and Hermon S. Frye, his former law partners. In a signed statement, bear out the Mayor's explanation, adding: ' "We have retained Mr. Gill's name simply because our firm has been known as Gill. Hoyt & Frye since 1902, and we have always expected that as soon as Mayor Gill's term as Mayor expired that he would return to our office and again associate himself with us. "As far as his name being a help In obtaining business, it has been a hin drance. We have refused on numerous occasions to take cases before the Civil Service Commission and other city de partments. We have at times taken criminal cases In which the defendants were accused of the violation of city ordinances, but this class of work con stitutes less than 5 per cent of our business." Just what procedure Mayor Gill will follow he has not determined. He has stated that the attempt to disbar him is part of a political conspiracy, and because of this fact he has intimated recently that "he may be forced, much against his will, to run for Mayor again." Declarations for candidacy for Mayor close January 19, and the hearing on the complaints in disbarment is set for Monday, January 7, In Seattle. The Merchants' Protective Corpora tion is an Indiana concern, admitted to do business In Washington. The meth od of obtaining business for the firm revealed a system -of solicitation. Among the Seattle clients are many poolroom proprietors, pawnbrokers, druggists, rooming-houses and soft drink establishments. The local Bar Association held a hearing on the Merchants' Protective Corporation several weeks ago, and, while' It did not mention Mayor Gill In connection with the caae, found that the corporation was operating con trary to the statute, and recommended that the Secretary of State withdraw Its permit to do business In Washing ton. Interest in the disbarment proceed ings centers on the significance they may have in connection with the ap proaching primary election. It is con sidered likely that Mayor Gill will again be a candidate to succeed him self. . at Senator McNary'a request today re voked the order, of the district engineer at Portland, which would have com pelled removal of the temporary bridge across the Willamette River at Salem prior to completion of the new steel bridge. PACIFIC ALUMNI TO MEET Old Stndents Will Hold Reunion at Hazelwood Tonight. Alumni and old students of Pacific University will meet at dinner at the Hazelwood at 6:30 o'clock tonight. The dinner has been arranged by A. J. Prideaux, principal of the Woodstock School, who is president of the Alumni. It is held at this time because a large number of former students of the For est Grove college will be in the city to attend the state teachers' meeting Those who wish to make reservations for the dinner should telephone to Mr. Prideaux before noon today at Sell wood 1941. WAR TAX RETURNS HELD UP Portland Theaters Not Yet in Re , ceipt of War Blanks. Patrons of theaters in this city will not know for several days how much they have contributed in the aggregate in war taxes to the Government through the purchase of tickets. The war income tax, applicable to theater tickets, went into effect in November, and amusement houses werp required to make returns early in De cember. The time for making these reports has been extended, as the Gov ernment has not been able to furnish theaters with the necessary blank forms for maklns: returns. IIIIIMIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIf IIMMIIIITTTMlIirilMIIIIllMMItlllllMIIIMlllllIIIIIIIItlllllllllllllllL: MSG Salem's Temporary Bridge to Stand. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Dec. 26. The chief of engineers A MODEL VICTROLA SHOP I It makes no difference where you pur chased your Victrola or phonograph, you will be welcome at our store. Here you will find new features in record service new, clean, well ventilated record rooms com petent, attentive, courteous salespeople. Come with us. G" F Tohnson piano (Jo. 149 SIXTH, BET. ALDER AND MORRISON Mehlin, Packard, Bond and Lindeman Pianos. Yictrolas All the Records. nilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIUllIln y1 m Pel IRQUHSaoocnnn nn n BE A THRIFTER" .turn I A THRIFTER is one who profitably keeps adding to his Savings Account balance while patriotically investing in Thrift and War Savings Stamps. The Northwestern Na tional Bank can help you along both the Prosperity and Patri otic path. jiuiiuwcaici it s r o u d..:i a. l &ai lis. uuuuii ijp The orthwestertv ir(l National 13 a. nlc Portland Ore&on. D O